Thrombotic microangiopathy in cancer

Ilene Ceil Weitz

doi:10.1016/j.thromres.2018.01.014

Thrombotic microangiopathy in cancer

Thromb Res. 2018 Apr:164 Suppl 1:S103-S105. doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2018.01.014. Epub 2018 Jan 9.

Author

Ilene Ceil Weitz¹

Affiliation

¹ Jane Anne Nohl Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California-Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: iweitz@usc.edu.

PMID: 29703465
DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2018.01.014

Abstract

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is clinical syndrome based on the presence of thrombocytopenia (platelet count <150 K or a reduction of the platelet count by >30% from baseline) accompanied by fragmentation hemolysis (MAHA) and evidence of organ damage. It can be seen in a variety of disorders including thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), shigatoxin related hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS). Cancer itself has long been associated with both macro and microvascular thrombosis. In addition, treatment with chemotherapy as well as hematopoetic stem cell transplantation (HCST) has been associated with atypical hemolytic uremic (aHUS) like syndrome. In this review, I will discuss the pathophysiology of TMA in cancer, chemotherapy associated HUS, and HSCT, well as new therapeutic interventions.

Keywords: Cancer; Eculizumab; Hematopoetic stem cell transplantation; Thrombotic microangiopathy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Neoplasms / complications*
Thrombotic Microangiopathies / etiology*
Thrombotic Microangiopathies / pathology